Walsall 0 Derby County 2 - Report and pictures

The Rams netted a goal in each half, as Nigel Pearson's men showed their Championship class in front of a crowd of 2,933 supporters.

Walsall fans were treated to a first glimpse of new signings Franck Moussa and Simeon Jackson.

But it was combative midfielder George Dobson and Erhun Oztumer who were the big plus points for Jon Whitney's side.

The Saddlers boss will also be pleased with his side's organisation - just two weeks before the competitive action gets underway.

Derby, under the guidance of new boss Pearson, arrived with a team full of players with Premier League experience.

Ex-Villa striker Darren Bent was joined in attack by talented winger Tom Ince. Amongst the substitutes, there was a place for England under-21 starlet Will Hughes.

For the Saddlers, there was no Rico Henry or Florent Cuvelier in the squad.

Second year scholar Callum Cockerill-Mollett handed a start at left-back, after impressing Whitney in the friendly against Birmingham.

It was Derby who started the game on the front with the visitors a whisker away from breaking the deadlock inside the opening two minutes.

A classy touch from Ince saw him race in on goal, with the winger then dinking the ball over the onrushing Etheridge.

Fortunately for Walsall, Joe Edwards had done well to read the situation with the full-back in the right place to hack clear off the line.

Derby were looking the more threatening and enjoying the lion's share of possession, as the clock ticked towards the 20 minute mark.

But they were struggling to break through a Saddlers defence that was being excellently marshalled by Dobson and Adam Chambers.

Walsall had their first attempt on the half hour when Erhun Oztumer fired straight at Lee Grant from 20-yards, after combining well with Kieron Morris.

Five minutes later, though, Derby were ahead. Ince found some space inside the area before delivering a wonderfully inviting cross, which Bent simply side-footed home from close range.

Both sides made a number of changes at the break with Walsall introducing Isaiah Osbourne, Amadou Bakayoko, and Maz Kouhyar for Dobson, Jackson and Moussa.

For Derby, the likes of Hughes and Andreas Weimann entered the fray as Pearson made four changes.

It was the Rams who threatened first after the interval with Bent sending a looping header inches over the bar following a deep Hughes' cross.

Walsall responded with Oztumer racing towards goal and teeing up Kouhyar, whose fierce strike was well saved by Grant.

Derby were controlling proceedings though and they extended their lead midway through the half, when Jeff Hendrick threaded through a wonderful ball to put Ince in on goal.

The winger then made the most of the opportunity by curling home an unstoppable strike, that was just beyond the outstretched arms of Neil Etheridge.

Whitney made more change with a little over 15 minutes remaining – Jordan Sangha and Kory Roberts coming on for Oztumer and James O'Connor.

The Saddlers then came close to pulling a goal back as the clock ticked towards the 90. Osbourne collected the ball in midfield and drove at goal but his low strike whistle just past Grant's post.